Lift truck



Dec. 16, 1930. w. sTuEBlNG, JR

' LIFT TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed' o ct. 14, `1.927

Dec. 16,` 1930. w. s'ruEBl'NG, JR 1,785,369.

LIFT TRUCK Filed oci. 14, 1927' 2 sheets-sheet 2 nimm@ mrlii" 0 Patented Dec. 1.6 'i 1930 fem-CE y 'n ConronA'rIoN or CONNECTICUT; Y

WILLIAM sTUEBINe, In., OECINCINNATI, ;o1=IIo, AssroivoafBYjivIEsNEIASSIGNMENTS, To THE YALE a T ovmnMANUFACTURINGCOMPIINY, on. sralvrronn CCNNECTICUT, d;

Application mea octoberilifwwfseriai ne'. aaema.

The present inventan relates* to lifting Vtrucks of the type'ingwhich Va steering lever is operative to lift the loadand has foran,

obj ect to provide an improved lifting mechanism and generally to provide'an improved truck. Q f

The nature and objects of the invention will be better understood from the considera# Y tion of' a particular:illustrative lembodiment thereof, for the purpose of whichdesc'rip-v .tion reference should be hadto the. accom-y panying drawings, forming .a part jhereof and in whichv i, i Y l e Figure l is a plan'view'of Va lifting truck embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view ofthe same showing the elevating frame in its lower position and position of the parts of the compound lift` ing link during themaking of the connection between the steering handle andthe elevating frame for raising the latter.;

Figure 6 is a similar fragmentary View` showing the elevating frame in.` its upper position but with kthe lifting means disconnected therefrom` and the steering lever, in steering position, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view indicating the manner of connecting thelifting mechanism for raising the load whenthe steering handle isA turned to one side",l

VThe truck shown for the lpurposes, of illustrating the invention has a main frame ,5f

and a load supportingor.elevating frame 6 carried thereby.

part of the main frame with a steeringy lever lO pivoted to the steering head 7 `to swing ina vertical planeV relative thereto. Suitable means'is provided for connecting the steer- -2 ing lever and the elevating frame fori raiswith the liftinglink con.-y

i A steering head vTis if swivelled 1n a transverse yoke 8 forming a .ingthe latter a vertical swinging .move-a ment of they former; andsuitable means is also rprovided for automatically locking the V'elevatinggfframe vto the. main frame when the elevating `frame reaches `its elevated p0- isition, as, .for example, the conventional locking hook 8a mounted on the main frame and the. 'cooperative member lfixed to" theele vatingframeg Asusuahth'e hook Q8a may be -manually :released to permitthe elevating frame todesce'nd'to: its lower position. 1 1' It, is one 'of the advantages of they inventionithat in operation the so-called whip- .ping handle is avoided. Inv the use of a liftingtruck, if the load to be lifted is heavy, thefoperative commonly steps onV the front ofthe truck and, [lifting VhisA body, throws hist-whole weightvon thefcross 'bar at the upper end".offthesteering lever"v or handle to swing the same-downward and raise the elevatingframe. In` many lifting trucks as vnowV constructed, it is possible for the means connecting the steeringflever to the elevating frame to becomeldisconneoted as the operative rise'slandjthrows hiswe'ight on the cross bar, wherebyi'thesteering lever moves downvward'freely without lifting the yloadcausing the so-called whipping handleA and gives the operative a dangerous-fall.

In the arrangementtobe described provision is ymade for automatically maintaining the vconnecting,means in engagement when the steeringv lever is vertical and the elevating frame is in its lower-most position to avoid the cFwh'i'pping handle. As shown the connection ibetween the steering lever and the elevating'fraine for lifting the latter comprises an extensible Ycompound link pivoted to one part, preferably the steering lever,

' and manually engageable with the other part.

As shown, thecompound link ll'comprises aiink l2 pivoted tothe steering lever at 13 and carrying at its" free end a hook member 14. arranged to engage an arcuate hook member l5 Acarried by theV elevati-ng frame 6 and 'preferably rigid therewith. vThe' arcuate heel-l5l is so constructed that the center of thefnrc onl which it is formed `liesvsubstan tially in the centerline of the axis of the steering head wheny the elevating frame 6 isin its Looy .lowermost position. `'Ihecompound link 11 may therefore be engaged with said arcuate hook 15 in different steering positions of the ylongitudin al axis of v the truck;v

In the arrangementffillustrated; the arcu-V ate hook member 15 extends upwardly from the elevating frame 6*.andl the compound link ,y 11 moves downward into engagement there-v with but obviously this arrangement is merely illustrative. Ask shown the link 412 ofthecomlpound link 11 isnormally urged upward toV inoperative or. disconnected'position by a ,spring 167 the upwardV movement being lim` itedby interengaging lugs and 18 Vcarried v respectively by the link 12 and the steering leve'r.10. .Thedownward movement'o'f the hook Y -member 14 relative tothe link 12k isV limited byf'the engagement of the shoulder 20 ofthe hookmemberwith thelug 21 on the link .whereby under certain conditions the'. hook member will be raisedwith itheliiik"12 by the spring 16. The extent of movement of the hook member in theopposite direction. about its pivot is preferably such that when disconnected from the elevatingframe and when the steering leveris in'norinal steering position, the hook. memberwilllie folded :back toward the steering lever, as -indicatedfin Fig. 6, thereby fbeingi'ipositioiied'.where it will not engage'the elevating fr anie orgthe load thereon, but itis so'balanced, that when the Vsteering.lever is in vertical position land the link 12 is moved downward asfby meansv ofthe fpedal 19 formed-.thereon saidfhook member will gravitateinto position Atov en- .gage the arcuate hookinember 15 of the elevating framefy This arrangement makes possibleV a 'relatively'shortetruck `in which the load" may be carriedwell forward andclose to the steering head. n y

The described arrangement constitutes in effect an extensible link wherein the maximum distance'between the pivot 13 and the bend of the hook 14 is equal to or greater than the maximum distance between the pivot 13 and the engaged side o'f the arcuate hook member 15 when the steering lever is in the upright position and the elevating frame down to permit making lifting engagement and the minimum distance between the pivot V13 and the bend of the hook 14 is less than the minimum distance between the pivot 13 and the engaged side of the arcuate hook15 to cause the engagement to be maintained.. By

this arrangement the whipping handle 'is avoided, fory-althoughthe link 12 will be urged upward by the spring 16, nevertheless the'hook member 14 willpretain its engagement with said hook and the action of the spring 16 will 'merely cause a-taking up of the slack in the extensible link by iexing the two parts thereof relative to each other;

inasmuch as the link 12 and pedal 19 swing laterally with the steering lever, the pedal is always in convenient position for operation. V[The movement of the link 12 and the hook member 14 when making the connectionbetween the-steering lever. and the elevating frame for raising the/flatter isindicated in Fig-5. When'thebperative puts his foot on the pedal, pushing the link? downward against lthe action of the spring 16 the point of the hook will' engage the arcuate hook 15 butas the V link 12 continuesto move down the hook member 14 moving pivotally about its point ofconnection to the free endof the link 12 will, in edect, exteii'dthe connecting link considered as a wholeuntil the hook member 14 rides over-.and falls-into hooked engagement with the varcuate hook 15 to make the connection. The engaged position while the operatives foot is lstillresting on the pedal 1'9 is showniii Afull linesA in Fig. 5.v As the operative lremoves his foot from the pedal `19, the link 1 2fwill. moveI upwardly tothe position shown in Fig. Bbut the gravity actuated hook member -14vrwill remain jin engagement with the hook`15 and because of the shape of the hook end, the spring 16 will not cause a disengagement. Accordinglyit is not necessaryto hold the steering lever forward of its rearmost position as is usual practice in operating trucks: of certain types.

After the elevating frame is raised by the downward swing of the steering lever, and

the locking hook 8a has engaged the holding member 8b `a backward movement of the steering lever 10 permits the spring 16 to lift the connectinglink as a whole to disconnect it fromthe elevating frame, and as the 2..;

movement of link 12 is arrested by the engagement of the lugs 17 and 18 the hook member 14 is thrown into its folded back position shown in Fig. 6.

rlhe foregoing embodiment is illustrative merely and is not intended as defningthe limits of the invention..V i'

I claim:

1. A lifting truck comprising in combination an elevating frame, a steering lever arranged to swing in arverticalplane, and means forconnecting the steering lever and the elevating frame to raise the latter comprising an extensible link connected to one part and ar ran'ged'to be manuallyengagedwith the otherl y art.. Y l y '2. Ak lifting truck comprising in combination an elevating frame,l a steeringlever arranged to swing ina vertical plane7 and means forcoiinectingthe steering lever and the elevating frame 'to raise the latter comprising anV extensible'Y link connected to one part andV arranged to be manually engaged with the other partyand means for automatidescription of a particular `cally maintaining engagement of saidV parts Y when the steeringlever isin upright position.

' 3. A lifting truck comprising in comb'rV nation an elevating frame, a steering lever arranged to swing in a 'verticalplana land means for connecting `tlie steering lever aid the elevating frame to raise the latter com.

prising an extensible. link connected to one part and arranged to be manuallyengagcd with the other part, said eXtensible link per initting a limited free movement of the steeij ing lever while maintaining the connection. 4. A lifting'truck comprising in combination an elevating frame, a steering lever arranged to swing in a vertical plane, and

a link for connecting tlie steeringflever-.and

the elevating frame for raisingtlie lattery and means to permit limited .contraction and ei;-

tension of the link to maintain connectionfl `between said lever and said frame during small backward movement `of the steering lever while the elevating frame is in its lowerniost position but arranged to permit dis-L engagement upon greater backward more ment of the steering lever when the elevat`V ing frame is in raisedposition. j.

5. A lifting truck comprising' `in combination an elevating frame, a steering lever arranged to swing in a vertical plane, and

means for connecting the steering lever and` the elevating frame for raising the latter comprising a link pivoted to one of the parte and a hook member movably connectedto said link and arranged Vto be connectedto and disconnected from the other parts, and means for locking theliookmeinber in connected relationV to tlie part Vengaged by when the elevatingframe visl in its lowermost position but permitting disengagement when Y the elevating frame is in raised position.

' 6. A lifting truck comprisingin combination an elevating frame, a steering lever ar-l ranged to swing in a vertical'plane, and means for connecting tlie steering lever land the elevating frame for raising the latter comprising a lifting link normally tending 1 to move out of connected position, and means to lock the link in connected position when the elevating frame is in lowermost position.

7. A lifting truckvcomprisiiig in combination an elevating frame, a s'teeringleverarranged to swing in a vertical plane, .and

means for c onnectingtlie steering lever and the elevating frame for raising the latter comprising a. lifting link carried by nepart and manually engageable with the other pai-@and means to maintain the connection between the lifting link andthe second `parte when made to vprevent accidental disconnection upon backward movement of the steerf ing lever while the elevating frame in its lowermost position.

8. A lifting truck comprising in combination an elevating frame, a steering lever arranged to swing in a vertical plane, and

steering lever.

meansifor connecting the steering leverV and elevating framefor raising the latter carried by one partandarrangedto be manually engaged with thefother part, andmeans for automatically maintaining said means inen. disengaged relation to saidv otherV para, f Y 9. ,A. tion an elevating frame,a steering lever rarranged to swing in a vertical plane, and

means-for connecting the steering leverand `tlie elevating frame for raising Vthelatter lifting truck comprising in combina-- comprising'anextensible lifting link carried l frame indifferent steering positions of the sA lifting truck comprising incombinavtion an elevating frame, a steering lever are* ranged to yswing in a verticalV plane,.and'V ineamsv for` connecting the steering lever` and l'the 1 elevatingv uframe for raising 'the latter comprising an arcuate member carriedbj7 vthe i elevating frame and' an eXtensible lifting link carried by the steering lever and engageable with said arcuate member indifferent steerby the-steering lever, and means to permit .engagement ofsaidilinkwith the .elevating s@ ing positions'of tlie steering lever together l with means tendingnormallyto move said f liftinglink `into inoperative position.

11. lifting Vtruck l comprising in combination' an elevating frame,` a steering llever arranged to swing in a `vertical plane, andl theelevating frame'for raising 'the latter coniprising alink carried `.by thev steering lever,

means -tendingnormally to raise said link to inoperative position, a hook member pivoted to the' free end of said link, means for limitdownward movement of said link.

12. A lifting ,truck comprising in combination an elevating frame, a steering lever arranged to swing in a vertical plane, and means forconi'iecting the steering leverjan'd the elevating frame-.for raisingthe latter comprising alink .pivoted to the steering lever,

means for connecting -tlie steering lever and lili) :ing the downwardmovementof said hook yrelative to said link, said liook member being engageable with the elevating frame upon a springtending normally to raise said link, Y

a hook member pivoted to the free end of said link means for limiting the downward movement of said hook relative to said link,

ilo

the elevating frame for raising the latter comprising an arcuate hook member carried by the elevating frame and a jointed lifting Y link carried bysaid 'steeringilever andV en# gageable with said arcuate hook member in different steering positions of Vthe Vsteering lever, `together witha spring connected to o frame is in lowermost position.

arranged to swing in a vertical plane, and

- meansk for connecting the steering lever and the elevating frame for raisingqthe latter comprising a two part foldable link` carried bythe steeringlever. j

15. A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a vmain frame, ani elevating frameV mounted thereon and arranged to be upwardly movable relatively thereto, a steer# ing; swivel mounted u onsaid main frame,

a steering leverpivota ly mounted upon said steering swivelrand provided with a rearwardly extending lifting member arranged to be moved by said steering lever to raise said elevating frame, lmeans rigidly mounted uponisaid elevating frame provided with a surface extending" a substantial distance to the right and left of thelongitudinal center? l line of said elevating frame and so positioned as to be in theV operative path of the free .end ofsaid lifting member when the lattery is operated to lraise said elevating frame whether said lifting member be operated to the right or left of said `center line, whereby said lifting `member may engage said surface at various points to raise said elevating frame when'said steering lever is operated to the right or left of its straight p" forward position, and means forautomatically maintaining lconnection between said surface and said lifting member while the elevating frame is in its lowermost positionV and for automatically effecting disengagement of said member from saidsurface upon upward movement of the *steering lever when thel elevating framevis in raised position. s

16. A l-ifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame, an elevating frame mounted thereon and arranged to be longitudinally and upwardly movable relative thereto, a steeringi swivel mounted upon said main frame, a steering lever pivotally mounted upon said steeringswivel, alifting member operatively connected to said steering levert-o raise said'elevating frame, said elevating frame being provided with surface extending a substantial distance tothe right and left from its longitudinal center line and so positioned as to interposey different portions of said surface in the operative paths of said lifting member inaccordance with the positions whereinsaid lever is operated to 14. A liftingtruck comprising in combi-l nation` an elevating frame, va steering lever the right or left of the longitudinal center line of the truck and means `for automatically Vmaintaining,'connection between said surfaceand said lifting member while the elevating frame is in its lowermost position and Vfor .automatically effecting disengagement lof said member from said surface upon upward movement of the steering 'lever whenthe'f elevating frame is in raised position. 1

17 A lifting truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having supporting and steering wheels,-a steering leverprovided with a pivotal'connection tosaidsteering wheels permitting said lever to be swung in a vertical plane and having a rearwardly extending lifting member, an elevating frame upwardly 'movable relatively lto said main frame and having a lifting contact sur face positioned to form aV pivotal connection with the free end of said lifting member7 one"v of saidpivotal connections being free togmove in an arcuate path on either side of the longitudinal center line of the truck as said steering lever is turned laterally to various steering positions5 .means independent of said lifting member tolock said elevating frame in raised position, and means for automatically maintaining connection be? tween said surface andy said lifting member -while the elevating frame is in lowermost position and for automatically effecting disengagement of said member from said surface upon upward movement of the steering lever when. the elevatingframe is locked in elevated position.. Y, f a

18.k A liftingtruclrcoinprising, in combi-` nation, a mainr framerhaving supporting wheels and a steering wheel mounted to turn on a verticalaXis, a steering lever having a pointof lconnection with said steering wheel and provided with a rearwardly extending lifting member, an elevating frame upwardly movableV relatively to said main frame and having aV contact surface positioned to affordr'a point offconnection with the free end of said lifting member, one of said points of connection being movable a substantial distance in a horizontal arcuate path in accordance with lateral movements of said steering lever as the latter is turned to various steering positions whereby the parts may maintain operative lifting relationship when ksaid lever is in said various positions,fme'ans independent of said lifting member to lock said elevating frame in its elevated position, and means for automaticallyfmaintaining connection `between said surface and said lifting memberwhile the elevating frame is in lowermost position and for automatically effecting disengagement of said member from said surface upon upward movement of. the steering lever when the elevating frame is locked in elevated position.' n

llG

CdlA i A lsaid lever when the latter occupies various 19. A lifting .truck comprising, in combination, a main frame having supporting wheels and ai steering wlie'elmounted to turn on'a vertical axis, af steeringv lever pivotally con viiected to said steering wheel and provided with arearwardly extending lifting` member, an elevating frame upwardly movable relatively tosaid main frame and having a surface to make lifting 0contact with the free 'end of said lifting member, said lifting memlber being arranged to be turned -liorizontally by and with said steering lever a substantial distance without moving out of operative lifting position relativejto said surface whereby said elevating frame may be lifted through steering positions substantiallyto one side of its straight forward position, and Vmeans for automatically maintaining connection be tween said surface and said lifting member while the elevating frame is in its lowermost position and for automatically effecting dis-f engagement of said member from said surface upon upward movement of the steering leverv when the elevating frame is Vin raised position.

said lever is swung laterally to various steering positions, means independent of said elevating said frame, and means for connect. ing together said lever and elevating frame 1 for Vraising thelatteig comprising a connecting element normally tending to move .out of connecting position, and means automatically to lock said element in connecting position when saidelement is moved into that position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisl specification this 10th day of Y VOctober,V 1927.;A` Y

' WILLIAMSYTUEBING, JR.

20. A lifting truck comprising, iii combina'-y Y tion, spaced supporting wheels, anelevating frame upwardly movable relatively. thereto,

`a draught lever mounted to pivot verticallyV f and horizontally relatively to said frame'and provided with a lifting member movable by and with said lever to raise said frame relatively to said wheels, an elementV integralA with said frame for cooperative lifting contact with the free end of said lifting member,

the parts being shaped and positioned topper. x mit said lever to be operated at substantial distances to one side of its straight forward position to lift said frame without disengage# ment of said lifting member from saidelefV ment, andmeans for automatically maintain# r ing connection between said surface Vand said lifting memberV whiletlie elevating frame'is in its lowermost position and for autoinatiof the steeringlever when from said surface upon lupward movement is inraised position. Y

21,A klifting truck comprising, in com bination, a main frame having supporting and steering wlieels,an elevating frameI Y cally effecting disengagement of, said member L the elevatingframemounted thereon for upward movement rela- Y including a lever connected to said steering tively thereto, elevating and steering means wheels to guipde the same, pivoted to be swung vertically relatively thereto and provided with a lifting member having al rearwardlyy extending free end, means 'integralV with said elevating frame shaped and .positioned to be i engagea-ble by said free end vof said lifting means being relatively shaped and positionedY Y to permit said-lifting .member to' describe circular kmovement relativeto saidV last namedV lmeans without breaking contact therewith as e member, said free end and said last named i 

